Fusion Outshoots Mutiny But Falls Goal Short

TAMPA — Until the Fusion can find a way to win a road game, it will lack the success it needs to become a playoff contender. Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Mutiny was proof.

The loss was the sixth in a row on the road. It's 4-17 all-time away from Lockhart Stadium.

The Fusion remained tied for last in the Eastern Conference with the MetroStars with eight points. The Fusion's next two games are on the road.

Costa Rican forward Alejandro Sequiera, called back by the Mutiny last week when defender Jan Ericksson was lost for the season with a knee injury, scored his first MLS goal in the fifth minute. Colombian midfielder Carlos Valderrama started the scoring play on a free kick, sending the ball to Steve Ralston. Ralston beat defender Mario Gori on a centering pass to Sequiera, whose header beat Jeff Cassar for a 1-0 lead.

Coach Ivo Wortmann preached to the Fusion before the game about giving up the early goal.

"We weren't disorganized, we were not concentrating,'' Wortmann said. "I told the players before the game we don't have a problem inside the 18, the problem is we have to kill the play in the beginning. We are losing games from our mistakes, especially in the first five minutes.''

Even the addition of Brazilian forward Welton and Colombian defender Arley Palacios couldn't help the Fusion.

The Mutiny (6-5) remains in third place in the Eastern Conference with the victory. Tampa Bay coach Tim Hankinson was pleased with the results after losing 2-1 to the Fusion last week.

"We said last week in the locker room after the game over that we were disappointed in the result,'' Hankinson said. "But one of the great sagas of sport is going from hero to goat back to hero again. This was our test to come back.''

The Fusion (4-9) tried its best to produce an equalizer, but each time Mutiny keeper Scott Garlick was there to prevent the goal. Maurizio Rocha, who replaced Jim Rooney in the second half, sent a cross to Diego Serna. The Fusion's leading scorer with seven goals couldn't slip the header past Garlick.

Midfielder Henry Gutierrez, who had a goal and an assist last week against the Mutiny, fell short of duplicating that effort. His free kick from 25 yards was punched away. Garlick missed last week's game due to back spasms. He finished with six saves.

"It's tough. It's a whole lot easier to defend the goal than it is to score,'' Gutierrez said. "We keep creating chances, but we need to learn how to defend the goal. I don't care what happens, but we're still giving up goals in the first five to 10 minutes in the game.''

Jay Heaps replaced Tyrone Marshall in the 46th minute and had a solid opportunity to even the score in the final three minutes. Gutierrez sent a cross to the backside of the penalty box to Heaps. Heaps' header appeared on its way into the goal, but Garlick was able to pull in the ball.

The Fusion outshot the Mutiny 16-12 and had eight shots on goal to three for the Mutiny.